2. Count to 50 before you say anything incendiary. This pause will help you calm down just long enough to think better of it.

3. Don’t throw verbal bombs. Avoid put-downs, personal attacks, judgments, criticism, and blaming — as well as sulking, interrupting, and stomping out of the room.

4. Ask yourself if you can — and should — solve the problem on your own.

5. Skip heavy conversations before breakfast and from 11 a.m. to 12 p.m. and 3:30 p.m. to 6 p.m. — because nobody should argue on an empty stomach. And ban problem-solving talks after about 8 p.m. Fatigue starts many fights!